CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
May 28 is the date for kick-off.
The NRL Telstra Premiership will recommence as a 20-round competition on May 28 with the Grand Final to be played on October 25.
Origin is also scheduled to go ahead following the Grand Final, which means each three matches will be taking place deep into the warm Spring months. Which is glorious news.
With the shock resignation of NRL CEO Todd Greenberg last week, rugby league fans only have one man to thank for the hardline negotiations that have saved the 2020 season.
He goes by the name of Saint Peter.
An NRL statement released on Tuesday afternoon said: “Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Chair Peter V’landys today confirmed the details after extensive consultation with broadcast partners, clubs, and key stakeholders.”
From politicians to players, this result has come as a surprise everyone.
That is, except for the nation’s Greek community, who always knew that Saint Peter could pull this off.
Local Betoota Dolphins 4th-grade captain and club treasurer Lewis Karnava (38) says he had no doubt that the NRL would re-start in time to get this year’s season underway.
“Mate” says Lewis.
“This is the bloke that got Racing NSW through the Equine Flu. That was like the Coronavirus of horses. You don’t reckon he could get the boys back out there by May?”
“Of course he wasn’t going to get this done. He’s Greek, mate”
In fact, Lewis goes one further and points out that it’s not just Peter V’Landys’ Greek heritage that has helped the rugby league negotiate through the hurdles thrown at it by the cowardly state governments and Channel Nine executives. It’s the specific Greek island he comes from.
With a population of 4000, Kithira is an island in Greece lying opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is well known for exporting amazing businessmen and women to Australia in the 1950s such as Sydney Roosters owner Nick Politis, Mad Max creator George Miller and now more notably Saint Peter.
As Lewis points out, Australian rugby league fans have a lot to thank this 300 square kilometre island for.
“He’s not just a Greek, mate. He’s a Kithirian. That’s a double threat”
“You know what they say, Kithira boys don’t cry”
